The Danish Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education wants to connect research and society through ESOF

The bridge to curiosity

25.10.2013

NordForsk met with Morten Østergaard, the Danish Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education, in connection with Denmark’s hosting of the ESOF research conference in Copenhagen in June 2014.

Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) is a research conference to be held in Copenhagen on 21‒26 June 2014. The minister is clearly looking forward to this large-scale, open meeting place, which is expected to attract as many as 50 000 participants – including researchers, decision-makers and not least a curious public.

- The purpose of the ESOF is to generate interest in research and hopefully inspire an enthusiasm for research among the coming generations. I am pleased that we are dedicating significant resources to this project, because in a way it will spark off a chain reaction: We need to attract new research talent constantly, and we need to cultivate greater basic curiosity among young people, as this is precisely what drives research.

- We need to cultivate greater basic curiosity among young people, as this is precisely what drives research. Morten Østergaard

We can’t simply rest on the past strengths of our research findings. If we do that, and if our most eminent researchers do that, we will be sawing off the branch we are sitting on. This is the fundamental purpose of gathering together so many skilled researchers, so they can talk with each other, with decision-makers and with the general public during the ESOF conference. I believe that sends a strong message.

The Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF) is a large-scale research conference held in Europe every two years. In 2014 the conference will take place in Copenhagen, and the theme will be “Science Building Bridges”. The Danish Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education is eager to build bridges between research and society.